Kobe's "Anonymous" Accuser
Tags:
update Some people are missing my point entirely ... the issue I'm raising is not "Why is accusing Kobe Bryant different from accusing an unknown person?" I'm saying that, if this woman had accused Kobe of slapping her, robbing her or trying to kill her, she would not have had her name shielded. But, because she accused him of the specific crime of rape, she did.
Setting aside the fact that the internet basically makes this a moot point ...
Why are so-called "victims' groups" advocating that the name of Kobe Bryant's accuser remain anonymous indefinitely?
Yeah, I feel really, really bad about the shit she's been put through (death threats, a permanently tarnished reputation, etc.) ... but we don't do it for (adult) victims of other traumatic crimes.
If people accusing others of fucked up shit like attempted murder, (non-sexual) assault or hate crimes have to accuse their assailants publicly or not at all.
So why do those that allege rape get this special treatment? Why is their victimhood elevated above others'?
Because the case itself has been elevated above others. Most victims of (alleged) crimes won't have their names in every paper if they are "released". Most victims won't have their name be the butt (HY!) of jokes on next morning's radio shows.
Posted by: Max on October 8, 2004 12:43 PM | permalinkI'm not familiar with this case, but here in Australia, rape is a treated specially because of the power differences that often exist between a rapist and his victim. It is somewhat akin to bullying and manifests in other kinds of crimes as well, but it is most potent in rape.
Here's a snippet from a radio show I heard a few weeks back, talking about the trial procedures for rape cases in Australia: (http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/lawrpt/stories/s1188812.htm)
"""Probably about 1 in 10 people report rapes, maybe as low as that. In terms of prosecutions the work that we did suggested that about 1 in 6 complaints of rape go forward, and only about 25% of those result in a conviction."""
In other words, in only 1 out of 240 rapes is the rapist brought to justice. If a rapist picks his time and target carefully, he probably won't ever be punished by the law. This situation is outrageous.
A big part of the problem is that the woman is often an easy target for revenge by a rapist or his mates. Even if she isn't, the bullying aspect of the crime means a rapist can intimidate his victim in the witness stand.
Conversely, it's horridly easy, if not common, for a woman to falsely accuse a man of rape. But because of the rules and laws of the court, it is still hard to get a man falsely convicted.
Many jurisdictions are trying to work out rules and laws that will bring more certain justice to rapists while still providing innocent men with the means to defend themselves. Tricky stuff.
Posted by: Alan Green on October 8, 2004 8:56 PM | permalinkNo more comments! Either someone has violated Godwin's Law, I'm tired of the discussion or, most likely, the ten-week window has closed. You can, however, contact me through email.